Photo by: Wasp32, from Wikipedia Commons. Cropped.
Nomenclature
Common Name:
Christmas fern
Synonym(s):
Genus species:
Polystichum acrostichoides
Family:
Dryopteridaceae
Plant Specifics
Form:
fern
Size:
to 2.5 ft tall by 1-2 ft wide
Life Span:
Long-lived perennial
Flower Color:
NA
Fruit Color:
NA
Phenology:
Semi-evergreen
Noted For:
Interesting Foliage
Landscaping
Recommended Uses:
Treasure if you have it. Good for rock gardens and shade gardens as an understory plant.
Considerations:
Benefits from periodic removal of old fronds.
Availability:
Specialty Provider
Propagation:
Does not spread vegetatively; rare spread from spores.
Light:
Shade
Moisture Tolerance:
Always Flooded------------------------------------------------Extremely Dry
Coming Soon!
Somewhat moist, no flooding ---to--- Not wet but not extremely dry
Salt Water Flooding Tolerance:
Unknown
Salt Spray/Salty Soil Tolerance:
Low/no tolerance of salty wind or direct salt spray
Soil or Other Substrate:
Sand, Lime Rock
Soil pH:
Circum-neutral to calcareous.
Suitable to Grow In:
8A,8B,9A
Ecology
Wildlife:
Native Habitats:
Rocky hammocks and upper margins of swamps.
Natural Range in Florida:
Visit the USF Libraries Atlas of Florida Plants
Comments:
Ethnobotany:
General Comments:
The range of this species includes much of eastern North America up into southern Canada. Its occurrence in Florida is sparse with appropriate substrate likely being the primary determining factor.
